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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1897)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAIIA , SATUBDAY MOUSING , JANUARY 23 , 1897 TWETjVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY El\rE CENTS. Locating the Exposition OMAHA , Jan. 22. To the Udltor of The Ileo : I was nmuncd at reading the two com munications In The Ilco of last evening one from Mr. Crmn and the other from Attorney Richardson , both favoring Miller park and opposing Hatr.com park , and from diametri cally dlfftrcnl fltandpolnts. Mr. Crum ob- Jvcta to .the Hanscom park site for the reason that It would be "altogether too wtarlng on the pedestrian and an extra , unnecessary and unreasonable tax on the patlcnco and muscle of the poor thalr wlicelor.1' Attorney Hlchordson advocates the "Miller park slto with Its COO or more beautiful attcs" as the only suitable loca- tloli for the exposition. In the name of common sense what docs the exposition want with " 500 or more beau tiful acres ? " Is It going Into the corn rap ing business , with corn at 10 cents a bushel. or does It pro- pc-.io to establish a grazing or stock ranch ? irit'SVero nccisaary to have so large a tract of land and scatter the exposition bulldlnga nil over Hie same , would It not be far moro tough on the "poor chair wheeler" and 'moro wearing on the pedestrian" than If only150 acris centrally located were Im proved ? Would It not bo for better to Im prove and beautify 150 acres , or pawlbly 100 acres , near the center of the city than to expend ( he hiBiiey1 of the exposition In at tempting to Improve " 500 or more bcautTTul acres" extending from the north line of the old government reservation to the south line of Kloretce ? It Is true that Klorcnce Id a beautiful city , and If It has not the waterways of Its ancient namesake. It Mnii within ttii corporate limits the Omaha water works. It Is also true that the surroundings of Florence represent many hundred "beauti ful acred , " but the distance to these beau tiful acres , like the distance to the beauti ful acrce sL'rroumllng Ilcllevuc , In altogether too great for the majority of the residents of Omaha , Council ( Huffa and South Omaha , and far too remote from the titles named for visitors who may deslro to see and know some thing of theao cities as well aa sco the wonders of the exposition. It Is an un doubted fact that not one In a hundred of tli9 citizens of Omaha or South Omaha have seen the extensive Improvements and beautiful grounds comprising the government reservation at Hcllcvue. It U also n fact that cannot bo faltly questioned or dis puted that there Is not one In a hundred of the people of Omaha or South Omaha who have not visited Hanscom park many times. What Is true of near and tomato locations In the pact will bo true of the exposition In the future. A fair consideration of the advantages of all the proposed sites for the exposition will demonstrate the correctness of the contention of the advocates of the Harwcom park location that for ucccttilblllty , elevation , water supply , drainage and sewcr- nge , nnd the preservation for the future use of the public of the permanent and desirable building. ) , It stands without an equal or a rival , A great deal has been said and done In the past In favor of the Miller park site , but notwithstanding this , the Hanscom park site has rapidly been growing In public favor. Permit mo briefly to enumerate the special advantages of the Hanacom park site : The Hanscom park site Is the most cen tral of all the locations proposed. This Is demonstrated by a reference to the maps of the city. No unbiased person will question the great advantage of a central location. The direct result of a central location would bo to double the gate receipts , largely In crease , the street railway trafllc and greatly benefit the business Interests of our city. The nearest possible location to the business center of the city should be favored by everyone ono having the Interests of the city at heart nnd desiring to sec the exposition a com plete success. As recently stated by one of our business men , the brat location would be Farnam and Sixteenth streets , but , as the adjacent Improvements ore of such a char acter aa to render the selection of this loca tion Impossible , the next suitable and nearest location should be selected. If the ir.aps of the city arc examined It will be observed that 1C a line Is drawn midway between the Hanscom park and Miller park locations It will crcea the city cast and west at a point como distance north of Prospect Hill cemetery and about In 'ttiu vicinity of Lake street , If a two-mile circle Is drawn from "the proposed entrance to the Ilanscom park site it will Include within HP limits the northern portion of South Omaha and also the southeastern portion of the city , In cluding Mr. Kountzo's residence and Brown- ell hall. It will also Include the entire business portion of the city. It will also Include Dundee and Walnut Hill In the northwest portion of the city , nnd nlsb Include the greatest portion tion of the residence property In the north ern part of the city south ot Lake street. If a two-mile circle Is drawn from the pro posed entrance of the Miller park olio It will extend almost to the northern boundary line of the city of Florence , would Include Cut-Off lake and would extend southward a Eiilllclcnt distance to take In Kauntze Place. " The ' Harscom park two- mllp circle would Include about nine-tenths of the entire iiopulatlon of the city , while the Miller park two-mile circle would " Include only about one-tenth ot the popu lation of the city. The Hanscom park situ could most cat'lly bo reached by five-sixths 'Of tlio' population of the cities of Omaha and South Omaha , while the Miller park slto could perhaps bd most easily reached by one- sixth of the population. It Is fair to esti mate ( hat the great bulk of the visitors 'to ' the exposition , If they are to stop In the city , will locate near the central portion of 'tho ' city , nnd. therefore , could reach the Ilanscom park site far moru easily and quickly than they could reach the Miller park Bite. Mr. Crum urges as a reason for favoring Miller park that the Fremont , Elkhorn & Mlesourl Valley railway nnd the Chicago , St. Paul , Minneapolis & Omaha railroad , as well ns the Belt Line railway , would all bring- , their trains Into the exposition ground. ! . .This may seem to Mr. Crum n thing greatly to bo decked. Aa I view the matter , It would bo a great misfortune to have visitors taken by the railway tralnn directly to and -from the exposition ground. ) . It .Is mani festly for the benefit of Omaha 'and the bUslncfen Interests of the city , as well as for the street railway company , that visitors should reach the exposition grounds from .tome part of the city of Omaha rather than uy railway trains coming Into or passing through the city. Mr. Cmm claims that there li but one llll < > of * trect railway loading to the llaaicom jiark sic. | In thU he Is mlslnken. The Sixteenth and Leavcnworth ttrcct line , which IB the most completely equipped double track line In the city , would take pas. rruigcrs to both the cast entrance at the northwest ' corner , of Hnnrcom park and the adutlf ent'rance oh Center street. The double track. Farnam street line has a double track connection with the Leavenworth street line on Twenty-eighth street. With an extension - tension of two or three block ? southward InilK 'Farnam street on Thirty-fifth street the main north entrance of the Ilunscom park site would also bo reached. During the rush hours It would bo sufficient to merely - run twci or thrco tralim to the Fifteenth or Sixteenth rtrtct switches In the vicinity of Furiiam street , as the great bulk of the passengers would leave the vtrect cars nt f three switches , the Bamu being Bufllclcntly near to the hotels and centrally located boarding houioa , thereby enabling the cam to at once return to the Exposition grounds. The trips could ho made In lean than one- third of the time that would be required to go to the Miller park site. It inui't bo admitted by every fno that thu Huiiscom park alto la the most elevated as well as ( he most centrally located. When It IB considered that the exposition will he held during the hot summer month.i , a illgbtly elevated location IB greatly to bo deilrixl. The vlow from the Ha.twcom parU site Is extended and beautiful In every di rection. While It Is true that the Hanscom park slto la not as near the water works as the Miller park site , It Is not true that the Hnnscom park slto has not an adequate and siiUlck'nt ' water supply. The fact Is that along Poppleton avenue , extending through the center of the grounds , Is a large twenty- four-lnch main , with flro hydrants at short distances apart. A water main also ex tends along Center street with fire hydrants. As a result , tmfTlclent water supply and ampin flro protection can be secured. Ain examination of the records In the office of the city engineer will demonstrate that the Hanscom park slto has drainage and sowcrago advantages which cannot be equalled by any other proposed location. A largo sewer main evlats within a short dis tance of the north line of the Hanscom park slto and several plpo linen extend up to and through the grounds offered to the cxpcsl- tlon. No sewer whatever exists In Miller park. Its so-called beautiful lake 1s made from water contaminated with sewage , and unless a large expenditure of from $ . " 0,000 to $100,000 Is made for the construction of sewer lines the proposed "beautiful lake" would bo a disease-breeding pestilence. Another strong point In favor of the Ilanscom park location U the permanent re demption of the unsightly ravine which ex tends north and south through the central portion of the city , crossing Farnim near Thirty-first street. As a part of the plan for locating the exposition near Hanacom park , It IE proposed to convert the unsightly ravlno referred to Into a beautiful park and boulevard , whlclnfor all future time , like " Hanocom park , would be more generally used and enjoyed than any other park or boulevard In thn city. As the result ol turning this present eyesore Into a beauty spot In the very heart of the city , some of the desirable uulIdlnjM of the exposition could be permanently located and would re main after the exposition for the use und enjoyment of the people. Another advantage by taking a portion of the county farm would bo that a number of permanently constructed buildings could also remain for future public use. I respectfully submit that the Advantages In favor of the Hanscom park site far exceed and outweigh any advantage that can possibly exist In favor of any other location. JOHN STEEL. OMAHA. Jan. 21. To the Editor of The lice : I am a laboring man , and In behalf of the laboring men I would like to see the exposition slto located as convenient to the homes of the laboring men of Omaha as It call be. If It goes to Elmwood or Miller park , the men who live In Omaha , and manj of ' .hem who are trying to pay taxes and po/ for their homes , have got to deduct cur faro from their already small wages , as .veil as put In so much extra time In going and coming , while outslilc labor will flock In and stop at the cheap boarding houses which will be built where the fair Is located and will have the host of Omaha labor. Car fare might seem like a small thing to most of your readers , but if tlii.1 show Is as big as they are planning it will take a great many men to put It In shape for 1S98 , and the car faro altogether will amount to some thing Ilka $15,000 or $20,000. I do not sec why this amount cannot be saved to the laboring men as well as given to the street car or railway companies. companies.OUS OUS PETERSON. OMAHA , Jan. . 21. To the Editor of The Bee : The friends of nivervlow park , In advocacy of that site for the exposition , desire through your columns to state to the public the following facts : Treating the Paxton hotel ns the central point of the street cars , hotels and popula tion of Omaha and South Omaha , measured by the blocks necessarily traveled and not by an air line , the Ulvervlew park site Is five blocks nearer to the Paxton hotel than any other slto cuggested. To make this more fully appear wo clvo distances measured In blocks of tbo ordinary size : Hlvcrvlew Park site , twenty-eight ; the EO- called Hanscom park , or poor farm site , thirty-two ; fair ground site , seventy ; East Omaha site , sixty-five ; Miller park site , seventy blocks. II' Stxtccntlv and Farnam streets Is chcaen an the center , then the Itlvervlcw park site Is but ono block nearer town than the poor farm site , but wo submit that taking Council Illuffs Into consideration the Paxton hotel is thn fairer point from which to measure. As to water : ' The Hivcrvlew park ellc has an artesian well. The rprlngs In Syndicate park , three- blocks west , which formerly supplied all South Omaha and the packing hou.ics with water , can be piped into the ground , dispensing with the necessity of Ice and giving cool drinking water at all points. In addition to that the city water now at Sixth and Bancroft , Eleventh and Bancroft , on Tenth street to the south line of the park. Thirteenth street along the eide of the park , and on Twentieth street , the South Omaha thirty-six Inch main can bo made available. If the Nebraska legislature , as seemu probable , attaches to the condi tions of Its appropriation , the provision that a , sample Irrigated farm shall be one of the features , the land adjoining Rlvervlew park and between U and the Missouri river Is the only land In any of the sites available for such purpose In Its general contour , and IB the only land In which the water for Irrigating purposes could bo obtained at slight cost either from the Missouri river or from the arteshn well without the great coat to the water works company. In addition to the foregoing , which has not been called to the attention of the public , wo may add the following reasons why the exposition should be located at Hlvervlew park : It Is the only site that presents a view of thtf Missouri river and the bottom lands , bluffs , , woods , cornfields and lakes that line Its banks , making the ono unique , distinc tive Omaha landscape. It 'Is the only slto that possesses forest trees In abundance. U Is the only site that possesses pure , healthy , cold mineral and artesian water. It Is the only site where the Missouri river can be made available for excursion boats and as a means of transportation to and from the grounds. It he.i perfect sewerage. It Is accessible by the Thirteenth street car line , and by the proposed street car ex tension down Tenth and Sixth streets , and from South Omaha , and also by I ) , & M. railway and river steamers. On the road hither Is presuited the broad , est and most Imposing view possible of the city of Omaha. The grounds are susceptible of great ornamentation - ' mentation at slight expense. It U not confined and chut out from re freshing breezes and Inspiring views In a hollow or on the bottom. It U the coolest place In summer. The odors from the packing houses are not wafted to It on the south wind , the prevailing wind In the heated sesaon. It U tlio meet healthy location and le.ia subject to contagious disease by reason of low , maruhy grounds or bad sewerage. U U the only site upon which the bulld- hiK4 woulu be In plain view of every train coming Into Council Bluffs and Omaha. ERNEST STUHT. OMAHA , Jan. 22. To the Editor of The Ilee : The letters of L. V. Crum and It. W. Rlchardaon In Uut night's Dee demand an answer , as they have not clearly stated the fucM In the coae , I am an advocate of the Bite that li nelectcJ , but In all falrnciu each alto Bhould bo properly repriucntcd before a selection la made by the Hoard of Di rectors. 1 , Mr. Crum ayn "permanent buildings are a myth. " It U generally conceded that If we do not succeed In gcttlnu tome perma nent Improvements aa a result of the Expos I. tlon that U will not bo the auccets that It hould be. Level-headed Chicago men will tell you today that their greatest mistake was that they received no permanent Im provements on the grounds as a result ot the great fair. 2. Ho says "It Is too hilly and rough. " This la not so. A great majority of the slto Is level , or can bo mode enough so by a very little work , and engineers say that a site that Is somewhat uneven can be made much moro attractive and beautiful than a level tract at the same expense. 3. The streets to and from the site arc not hilly. There Is only one small hill on Leav enworth street , from Sixteenth to Twentieth. In fact , there Is more driving on the streets leading to and surrounding Hanscom park than any oth > ! r portion of the city. 4. Mr , Crum says , "Hacks and carryalls claim they must charge double. " What rot. There Is not a hack or carryall driver In Omaha today but will take you from the center of town to Thlrty-fsurth and Leav enworth strceto , or Thirty-second and Woolworth - worth avenue , the propoicd entrance to the Hanscom park site , for one-half the prlco he-will take you to Miller park , and take you there In onc-Jhtrd of the time. 5. The statement that there Is only one motor line to the Hanscom park site Is re freshing , considering the fact that Miller park has none. The nearest Is equally close to the Hanscom park site , nnd Is no closer to Miller park than the Farnam street line to Hanscom park site. While the Leaven- worth .itrect line , with Its three branches runs to three proposed entrances , and other lines , the Farnam street for Instance , can be connected fully as easy ns any lines can be run to Miller park. Again , the licit Line runs around the entire city , and to South Omaha , and passes the Hanscom pat > site on the west. In all probability the Thirty-second street line would be extended to South Omaha , which would make nnothc through line from South Omaha to Omaha passing directly by the ground * . There Is no question but what nine-tenths of the people who will attend the show can read It much more easily at the Hanscom park site than at the Miller park site. Again , a least four-fifths of the people who will bo In the city will live or board within two miles of the Hanscom park site , and no moro than one-fifth can possibly nnd ac commodatlons over night within two mile of the Miller park site. G. To compare the Hanscom park site with the State Fair ground. ! Is out of the ques tlon. No site , so far , perhaps , can be com pared. In the way that Mr. Crum has made the comparison , with the State Fair grounds as to accessibility , distance , time to go there , etc. , but Miller park. If wo wouli stop the kicking our friend talks about wo should never locate the Exposition In Miller park. He says : "Do not let us make another mistake. " We all say so , and therefore we mu.it protest against locating another Expo sltlon four miles from the heart of the city 7. Our friend , Mr. Richardson , prates about "close In , gate receipts , " etc. Wo must remember , however , that gale receipts make or break this exposition. As said be fore , four-fifths of the people who will at tend this exposition will live or board within two miles of the Hanocom park alto , mrJ not ever one-fifth within two miles of the Mlllnr park site. Does it look as though It locating It at Hanscom park It would be. for scllUh Interests as claimed ? U looks very much as though selfish Interests ore trying to pull the exposition four mllco away from the heart of the city to Miller park , to be located In the'middle of a corn field and undesirable surroundings. Which ono of these propositions looks like a echonio ? Ir seems a safe proposition that a man who favors Miller park has persona ! Interests In ( hat direction , or Is Influence by some one who hss. S. Mr. Richardson says "distance la meas ured by time and ease. " So It Is , and there Is no possible question but what Hanscom park site would bo reached In less than one- half the time that It will take to go to Mil ler park by street cars , carriages , on foot , or horseback , and through a much moro de sirable and attractive part of the city , and as wo are to.entertain millions of people It Is an advantage that cannot be counted In dollars and cents that they should ece the most attractive portion of our city going and coming to the fair. 0. Mr. Richardson talks aUout "Miller park's EOO acres. " Five hundred acres v.'ithln the exposition grounds would bo & curse to this enterprise. One hundred and twenty acres of land within the heart of the city , magnificently Improved with finely paved walks , drives , beautiful foliage , lakes , etc. , end well constructed bulldlncs filled with exhibits and crowded with people for five months during the year 1S98 , the crounds surrounded by the best residence portion of the city , will make the exposition a mem * phenomenal success , which will be heralded the world over as a wonderful example of the thrift , enterprise , development and re finement of the great transmlsalsslppl stated Two hundred or 500 acres four or live mllcu out , mirrout.dcd by cornfields , dcaortcd real estate additions , the heritage of boom times and weeds eo high you cannot ECO the strcei corners or houses , with one-half of oui money spent In trying to put It In shape , with scattering buildings here and there muddy or dusty walks , weeds growing up In the corncra to make It unattractive as possible , we might have n good attendance , hut with largo grounds they will look abandoned and neglected , and the exposition will be ridiculed before one-third over , the managers discouraged because they cannot get money enough to put It In a desirable condition and offer suitable attractions to fill the grounds. A dismal failure stares them In the face , and the exposition goca down Into history as a mistake and on attempted real eotate speculation. 10. This Is not going to be a World's fair , and no comparison can or should b madu with It. In the neighborhood of $20.000 000 was spent In preparing the World's fair and wo are talking of $2,000.000 or $3.000,000. Two or $3OOO.OM prop- crly expended on a reasonable tract of ground accessibly located , within a few moments of the central portion of the city , caiin bo made so attractive and complete that It would be appreciated and admired as much as the World's fair , anc will create Juat aa much enthusiasm. Ilut the same amount of money spread out over 300 to 500 acres of land will bo an awful mistake , and a disgrace to Omaha U. H. HARDER , OMAIIA , Jan. 22. To the Editor of The pee : The undersigned moat icspectfully b g to call the attention of all the citizens of Omaha to the only real , plausible , economical and advantageous site of nil for the holding of the coming Transmlsslsslppl and Interna- " OIa P310'1Flm , ? ? , - we wish to stale plainly which slto wo are championing , ss there will bo ns misunderstanding , end will without any attempt at flowery oratory' deal entirely with facts regarding our site and point out a few positive objectlono to the other propooed sites which have not been brought out by th lr advocates. To our nv.na the location knawn as the "Elmwood park site. " which includes 204 % acres In the park , also 100 acres adjoining owned by the Omaha Fair and Speed association la the only place In which all of our citizens should bo Interested and benefited alike from Iho permanent Improvements which would necessarily have to bo put on the ground , but especially the citizens ( about 3,000 In number ) who have loibscHbed to stock or donated cash for the upbuilding of the fair grounds and maintenance of name. Wo see by an article written by our mutual friend , Robert Purvis , that ho takes occasion to Bcoro Omaha as havlnc made "several grievous mistakes In locating public Institu tions , " and especially BO In locating the state Mr. Wo would like to ask "Robert" where he was at the tlmo these locations were nettled upon and why he did not lend us his valuable couiissl In locating our public In stitutions. The fact of the matter Is our alto IB not too far Irom the city of Oman : anil Is aoven-cluhths of a mile nearer itir poBtolllco than other Bites BUggeated In the north part of the city. We venture th. suggestion that the 5,000 ret-IJenta spoken of by Robert who did not attend the fair would not have attended had II been located at Sixteenth and Farnam streets. Assuming , as he rays , that the fort waa located lu Earpy county , the ttato fair grounds near Elkhorn and the Exposition near Florence , and that wo built up eollil between thcue points , wo would have not only a city ol masiilllclent distanced , but one of between 950,000 to 500,000 Inhabitant * aa asalnst' HO , . 000 , Uaing your hammer to knock public Aistttutlons In a city Is bad for the general welfare of said city , and .If All other eltcs contained sufficient area ; which was owneO by the city of Omaha , cvrrythlnK else be ing equal , wo should not oppojo them for a moment. One of the great features of the Elmwood park site Is that nj ! of the buildIngs - Ings that are to be erected nnd nil of the permanent Improvements that ore to be placed upon paid grounds will be put upon grounds belonging to all of the citizens of Omaha and therefore will benefit each one of us alike , and not any ono or two In dividuals. Another strong feature which should be considered well by the Board of Directors of the expedition IB the fnqt that the Elmwood - wood park Bite and fair grounds has already expended upon It $320.000 over and above the amount expended on any one of the other sites mentioned. In other words , the Elm- wooJ park site offers as 'an Inducement to locate the Exposition on Us grounds $320- 000 as a , subscription , to the fund. The site In Itself Is high and sightly. There Is no possible seepage from the surrounding country that ecu possibly touch this area of ground , ns there Is In other sights offered. An adequate and lncxhauptblc ) water supply that U practically built , supplied and opcra- ted by Providence , and not by any worldly water works company , Is certainly a very desirable feature. The gravel bed over laying bed rock , which can be reached nt nn average depth of 100 feet , Is a vcrtlble underground river , much more relia ble than the muddy Missouri , the water therein being of the purest and clearest nature , lly having an Independent water plant whoso duty extends no further than supplying the wants of the exposition com pany would certainly bo. more preferable than a plant that has to supply both city nnd Exposition grounds. _ The danger cf broken mains and other mishaps would be reduced to a minimum. The sewerage on these grounds Is one of nature's work ; no distance to travel to find facilities to care for the same ; no extensive provisions to be made for outside surface drainage , nature having 'also provided for that. The entire tract la covered with grass. The street car facilities , while not of the beet , will be compelled to We made adequate fop all wants It the Exposition Is located at Elmwcod park. The rallroid facilities nt the prwcnt time nre adequate for all wants and nro now laid directly to the grounds , four different lines of roads making this point. Ample provision has been made for suitable tracts of land for showing In nn Intelligent way all matters pertaining to agriculture , such as Irrigation , etc. The grounds are reached by four of our leading thoroughfares from the city due west. In which direction "Empire takes Its way. " Wo have always advocated , ever since the Expedition theory wfs advanced , n point whldh waa brought out by our friend and citizen , R. W. Richard son. That Is. the perpetuation of the Ex position theory for an Indefinite length of tlmo after the tlmo allotttd < for the holding of the TransmlcalsslppI and International Ex position had expired. Mdny , If not all , of the building ? put up by tho'transmlsslealppl states would bo erected With a view to permanency and there Is uotja state scarcely in the transmlsslsslppl conntry but that would bo more than plcasell to perpetuate and maintain , at their own dxpcnso. a build ing showing their wonderful resources and posHbllltlcs , and , If they did Jiot desire to stand that expense themselves. It would be money In Omaha's iiocket lo stand It for them. People traveling ncroos the continent would be sure to atop overiln. Omaha from one or two or three dajM , lf a permanent Expialtlon of this kind wes held In our cly. If we were In our friend Illtfhardson's place , tiQwovar. wo would not aay much about tb ? slto that Is , ns he claims , "hiddenaway In the valley of the Llttlo 1'nplo , " as this site Is nearly a mile nearer the ppstofllce than the one he Is In favor of. Wro would also like to ask our mutual 'friend1 TMchardscm what portion of th 500 acres.ho Is advocating' bulongs to the city ot Omaht and whether or not lilo argument against .the Hanscom park-site does not equally apply to the 'Miller ' park , . slts.NaU.anOiO - ( , ! ; < ! > propatoil.slteiii states plainly what portion1 of their grout ! 1 belongs to the city and what portion to the various Individuals. Hlvervfsw perk has cn'j ulxty-flvo acres belonging to'thc city ; Miller park has only seventy-eight acres belonging to the city ; Hanscom par ) : has only eighty acres , 'which belongs to the county. East Omaha belongs entirely to Individuals. Elhiwood park has 370 acreu nnd all belongs to the city c.nO 3,000 of our most liberal and public-spirited citizens. The Ilanscom park site has advantages , but also disadvantages. Wf venture to sa > that the citizens residing en the west am : northwest sldo of Hanscom park have not been consulted In this mailer , and If they have and have given their consent , have no ! Considered the undesirable outside Inhabitants hat an exposition of this kind Is sure to at tract , such as mlivlaturo Ferris wheels , mer- y-go-rounds ( with attendant dljcordant music ) , cane racks , lottery chances , peanut stands and wild west shows , all of whlc- must necesorlly bo located very near If noi quite in their back yards. ' The noise ami lln which would surely be made by these outside Inhabitants would .inakc life most miL'orablo from early morning until late at night for six months of the year at least. Illvcvlcw pork , while It has some pretty features , ( after you get to It ) , should not bo considered because It has but one line of railroad running to It. and no street car facilities as yet completed to the grounds , and besides not being largo enough to ac commodate the buildings on ground that be longs solely and only to the1 city. The North Omaha sites suggested , If adopted , would be a detriment to the best business Interest of the city , owing to the fact that many citizens from the east wpuld be transported acrors the East Omaha bridge In the mornIng - Ing to the Exposition grounds and out In the evening. A largo percentage of our patronage must come from the east. Omaha would never see a large number of them. The seepage and dralnagn from the hllVi surrounding this site actuo here , and the present lake In Miller park Is made by a stoppage of the sewer , which , If opened up , would show said lulco to be n little ravine In reality. The above la substantiated by a thoroughly competent cnglpecr. Taking all things Into consideration , we cannot see as there Is but one location for the Exposition , and In thti conclusion we voice the scntlmenta of thousands of citizens who have not electioneered rfor the site , be lieving that when the true aqd natural merits of Elmwood park were brought to the atten tion of those who were 'to ' ] be selected for this purpose that this slto would stand pre eminently above alt others' that might be offered. W. Jl. BENNETT , A. CjLEMENS. OMAIIA , Jan. 22. To the | Editor of The Dee : Elmwood park site has everything to recommend It to the directors as the only logical slto for the exposition. It contains 3S5 acres of public land located Just three and one-half miles west from the pcatofllce. Elmwood park Is Omaha's largest park ; It contains 215 acres of/ land ; It has shade trees and plenty of them ; It has excellent water In abundance ; It Is a ! beautiful tract of land and should bo Improved ; It Is only a twenty-minute ride from the buslnesu : cntcr of the city by the cloctrlc car line , jut If the Omaha Street Railway company would do the right thing for the western iart of th'Is city It could' nuke the run n much less time and glvq satisfaction to ts patrons. Elmwood park slto would be a permanent benefit to the public , a eavjnK to the tax- inyerH , a profitable Income for the transpor- atlon companies for hit time. It Is the inly btto that can bo conveniently reached > y all the people of Omaha , South Omaha and Council Illuffs. The NebraBka leglsla- uro might demand that thl * exposition be ocatcd on public property. property.W. W. WEUSTER. MIockliol'lorN .MuHt I' < iy t'p. At a meeting of the executive committee of the Omaha Fair am ! Speed astochtlon icld Thursday , the secretary was Instructed o notlly the stockholders who had failed to lay up tht-lr subscriptions. If they do not ult will be brought agaJcst them. No .ctlon wan taken on' the ( jiHutlon of a bond temio. Director Mount.repwted on the pros- nects of the June race init-et , which promtaea o be cno of the mow aucMSBful ever held n the city. Each beat will jlie. made a race , bo nurse being divided Into first , second , bird aud fourth inonoyu. , KASPAR'S ANNUAL REPORT Commissioner Goes Into Detail ns to the Work of His Department WANTS ALL CONTRACT WORK ABOLISHED \Vonld Have ( lie City lloimlr ( lie Hie * ( Midi SI root Vlinluct 1'oiul- Inu ( ho Suit Xoiv In ( he Su- lirctue Court. Tlio annual report of tlio street depart ment for 1S9C was completed by Street Com missioner Knspar yesterday anil was pro- Ecnted to the Hoard of Public Works. Tlio report dents with the various questions that are Imminent at this time , and Includes a number of Important recommendations. It Is accompanied by a statistical tabulation , which shows In detail the disposition of the funds expended by the department. The net expenditures for tlio year amounted to $33,41)5.08. Of this J22.34C.12 went for street repairs , $10,690.41 for sweeping and cleanIng - Ing and $ G,4S0.52 for sidewalks and cross walks $ .r ,921.37 of the latter Item being assessed back against the property benefited. The figures show that the department has cleaned C2S blocks of streets at least once a week. Some of these were cleaned dally and others two , three and four times a week. In addition , 300 blocks of outlying streets were cleaned from two to six times during the season. Twenty-five thousand eight hundred cubic yards of refuse were re moved from the streets during the year. The street commissioner asserts that the streets and sidewalks of the city have been kept In excellent condition at a very small expense. The claims for damages against the city have been diminished CO per cent within the past three years , while the ex penditures have decreased as follows : 1891 , $30,907.03 ; 1S92 , $30,301.17 ; 1S93 , $ I8,33G.S ; 1S94. $31OS4.9G ; 1S95 , $20,852.04 ; 1890 , $22- SW.42. The total expenditures d.nlng the year for repairs to wooden sidewalks and cross walks were $ (5,480.52. ( Of this amount the sum of $5,921.37 was assessed against abut ting property for sidewalk repairs , leaving a balance of $559.15 for crosswalks , etc. Tlio report continues ! In my report or 1SOI I recommended ttmt the sweeping and cleaning of streets be done by tlny's labor , under the supervision of the street commissioner. The honorable mayor and the olty council concurred In the propo. sltlon mid since July 1 , ISO.'i , the work of sweeping mid cleaning the. paved ftnct * has been done by day's labor , under my supervision. I'nder this system the streets have been mnltitnlneil In a clcnnller nml more healthful condition than under the contract system , and Unit with the savins to the taxpayers of largo sums of money. Not only this , but ench dollar expended has found Its way Into the pockets of home labor , nil old citizens and many of them taxpayers. WOULD AI10USII CONTRACT LAHOK The succcrs achieved under the day labor system should bean Incentive to the city to further extend Its operation to other brnnrhes of the pub'lc ' work. Particularly would I direct attrntlon to the. present con tract system of garbage collection. As now operated It Is a collection that does not collect. The collection of cnrbngo should bo under the supervision of the street de partment and the. work done by day's labor. At the present time many alleys are block aded wltii piles or garbage and manure , but this department Is without authority In the established fact that 'the. muni cipal governments of the Important Kuro- pean cities have abolished thn contract sys tem of erecting public works , and sup planted .tho same with the day labor sy - Irmfopernted- directly under i-'thecontroUof tlio proper municipal authority. The' re sults have been entirely satisfactory and the people have profited by It. The Improve ments are far superior In character and cost less. During the period from 18S2 to 1S92 , when Inn Hoard of Public Works was vested with limited authority , and subject entirely to the orders of the cltv council , a vast sum of money was expended In paving and Im proving the streets and alluyp of the city I find upon Investigation that nearly all streets laved at that tlmo the work van poorly executed. The concrete umier me pavements Is of the poorest quality. In stead of helng ttc possessor of good con crete nix Inches In thickness , I llnd that from three to four Inch ? ? Is thn rule , and practically no cement was used In the mix- Ing. This notwithstanding the city has paid n. high r.rlce for llrst quality six Inches In depth. The result Is that a majority of our paved street- ! are In almost a worthless condition , and tie taxpayers have been mulcted for hundre 'M of thousand * of del lars. Had the Hoard of Public Works at that time been possessed of Its present powers , and had control of public Improve ments as today , the result would have been different nml the streets wnnM nov be In fair condition. It Is a fact that streetr paved since. If92 are In perfect condition and will stand as Good pavements. I am convinced Hint had om public Improve ments been constructed by the municipal authorities , under the day labor system the results would have been different and the Improvements of far better quality and cost much less. Certainly there co-ild he no object In the city Hklmmlnp the quantity of material required , nor would Inferior workmanFhlp bo tolerated. Hence my firm belief In the nractlcablllty and desirability of the day l.xuor system of erecting public Improvements. WOULD RR.MOV.K WOODEN HLOCKS. Passing to the Important question now confronting us of what to do with the streets paved with worthless wooden blocks In a high state of decay , I desire to offer a suggestion and make n. recommendation that T feel will solve the problem , and at the same tlmo be not too burdensome upon the taxpayers. Hrlell.v summarized , It Is this ; That the decayed blocks be removed and an Inexpensive substitute bo provided. My method would bo to cover the present concrete with two Inches of slagof proper dlmc-nBloiiH , th'.i ' to be covered with one Inch of stone or granite chips. Of , If pre ferred , gravel may bo used. This substitute can bo provided at a nominal cost , and I would urge that where the owners of abut ting property do not feel like assuming the cost of a permanent and more expensive pavement , that the same bo provided. It IH Important to the good name of the city of Omaha , Important to the established reputat'on for enterprise of Its citizens , Unit thn vast multitude that will visit the exposition next year be spared the sight of thn present wooden block pavements. What to do with our woollen sidewalks Is another perplexing problem. My solu tion of that Is to do away with them. Sup plant them with substantial and permanent material. On outsldn streets permit Omaha brick to be used. These br'ck on the resi dent streets will glvo tmtlsfactlon If proper discrimination be exercised In their selec tion. They have been used In this city for fifteen years , and and are In n fair condi tion today. The woden sidewalk In n , city like Omaha , Is a ( allure. It Is ex pensive to keep In repair , and after a very short service the cost of maintenance each year will equal the cost of n walk of pcrma. nent material , As a preliminary to the abolition of the wooden sidewalk nuisance , I would suggest that the mayor and coun cil , and the Hoard of I'uhl'o Works , take Buch steps as may bo necessary to empower thn Blreut department to remove thn old and dilapidated wooden walks from thn HtreetH , as It will be Impossible to Induce property owners to construct of permanent material HO long as the existing temporary attain ) are tolerated. CMTV TO REPAIR THE VIADUCT. The city continues the possessor of one. viaduct In Hiich condition that It cannot be used , and another l.s Huffcr'ng HID need of repairs. All this while the city of Omaha and Interested railway companies ant In dulging' In a legal battle In the courts of the nation that promlticH to be of n dura tion of years to come. In the meantime ) the people are deprived of the use of the Klovi'iith Htrcot viaduct und , property own ers nro Hiifferlng by reason of decreased rentals because. teiiantH cannot enjoy the accommodations and pr-vllrgeu that would bo thelra were the viaduct open for trnlllc. The can'- now pending hoforu tlio United Blatt'H supreme court will i > u settled In due lime. It max be years , but It will be reached some day , and the rltrhU of the city of Omaha and the rights of the railway corporal oira affected will ho fully deter mined. Tlio people have been waiting and watching UI'H cano for years , and the city authorities have held out to them tlio hope that In the near future It would bu decided , and then the vluduct would bu repaired und thrown open for trulllc. Thus have the years Flipped by , nnd the name old deluslv hope Is In existence , nnd doing the cum service. Hut It has become so hoary In th scrvleo that the people nro becoming ills gustcil nnd are determined to have relief. To my mind the proper thing to do n this time , nnd do It now , Is to repair th viaduct nnd permit the people to have us of It. No great sum will be required to d this , nnd I believe that an amicable nr rangvment with the railway companies ca bo madn whereby the cost may bo proper tinned among those nfTccteil , thu prune a In the case of the Sixteenth street vladuc when that structure was put In condltlo In 1891. If this cannot be accomplished I will bo the duty of the city , and It will b economy to do so , to mnk ? tlio repairs and when the supreme court shall liuv passed Judgment on the case pending befor It , nnd decided whether the railway com panics shall bcnr the cost of repairs , an that bo the decls'on , the city will bo re Imhurscd. Kaon day's delay In this matte not only Inconveniences the public , but th structure Itself being unused and uncarei for Is disintegrating rapidly. I bc-llevo tlia with the sum of $ $ .000 the Hoard of Publl Works can put the viaduct In n safe condl tlon. During ISM the department has performei n vast amount of work. Next year thl will necessarily be doubled , and this fac should be realized at once. It Is esHeutla that our streets be put In passable nnd presentable sentablo condition for the coming expo * ! tlon , nnd the mayor and council shouh make provision for this. The report ends with a vigorous protesi against the proposed abolition of the lloari of I'ubllc Works. CRACK MAHKS.MI3.V OP THIS AIM1Y Department of ( InPlntto AVIiiH ( In Hulk of tlio Honor * . The announcement In The. Heo's Washing ton dispatch yesterday of the result ol the rlllo and carbine practice of the Unltei States .troois | last summer was reeclvci with a great deal of satisfaction at tla hcad < iuartcr of the Department of the Plaltu. Thin wan duo to the fact that the troops of this department carried oil high est honors In six of the olght classes. The teport just Issued by the War department to which reference Is made In the dis patches mentioned , shows that the eavnlrj of the Department of thu I'latto made higher scores than the cavalry of any other depart ment at 200 , 300 , SOO and 1.000 yarda. as skirmishers and In the volley firing. The Infantry arm of the service In this depart ment carried off the honors with a rltle at 1,000 yards and ns skirmishers. Lieutenant Perry , who Is acting ns Inspector specter of small-arms practice In the abs-'nro of Lieutenant llutcheson , expressed great satisfaction at the showing which WCR made by the trocps of the department , and said It was a most remarkable record. IIo slid the credit for the showing made by the depart ment In the carbine competition was due to the superior shooting of the Eighth cavalry , stationed at Fort Meade , S. D. Referring to the report Issued by Lieutenant llutcheson It was shown that this regiment of cavalry bus 220 sharpshooters , of which sixteen are otllccrs and 204 are enlisted man. This Is more than three-fifths of the whole number of sharpshooters In the department. Lieu tenant Perry stated that this allowing is still more remarkable when It Is eon.ild > rccl that the cavalry was mimdlcd In .May of la.it . year with the new Krag-Jorgeimon carbine and wus compelled to use this arm In Ilio competition. IMH.ICK AVll.lj XOVV TAKH A HAM ) , Will Knforoo Orillniinoo Itoliitlvo to ItoniiiiiliorllKC lluiiNt-M. The city engineering department has de cided to take ir.oro radical measures to Induce - duce property owners to comply with the ordinance relating to the renumbering of houaey. Tlieo rdlnancc was passed by I ho city council a year ago , aud up to this tlmo no prosecutions have been attempted. The city engineer has caussd all property ownero to be nol'lfled three times and about 80 per cent of them have compiled. The remainder still retain"tli'clr old house numbers , ' and the confusion resulting Is embarrassing to any one who may have occasion to look for a given 'number. There has been a great deal of complaint on this score , and no-.v City Engineer Howcll ban turned the matter over to the police department with a re- ilticst to enforce the ordinance. The new directory of the city Is about to bo preparel and It Is desired that all houses should bo correctly numbered before their locations g" Into the directory. The police will now proceed to arrest all property owners who fail to Immediately , comply with the ordl nance. Chief Slgwart has detailed an oUl cer who will serve peremptory nollco on all property owners who still retain their old numbers. They will bo given three dayn In which to put up the correct numbers , nnJ they will be promptly arrested If they fall 10 comply. Itiililil Krimlcllii AllHV.'orN Mr. llnlilulii. OMAIIA. Jan. 22. To the Editor of The Dee : It Is always with a great deal of rotl- ccnco that I take part In any controversy conducted In the public press , but , having read In last evening's edition of your paper Mr. II. R. Baldwin's very courteous nnd well ( mentioned comment on my Iccturo on "Christ and Christianity from a Jewish Standpoint. " I cannot refrain from saying a few words In reply. I heartily appreciate all the kind thlnga that Mr. Ilaldwln was pleased to say about my lecture and myself , though why ho ahould consider It praise worthy in mo to have treated EO dcllc.ito a subject without having hurt the religious feelings of any I fall to understand. The Jew holds every man's convictions sacred so long as they are In themselves sincere and _ point the way to a better life. .Hut to Mr. Ualdwln's points of .criticism and claims of Inconsistency : The' remarkable agreement between prophecy and hlatory which so troubles Mr. B's. "poor lay mind" presents no dllllcultlei3 to my understanding. Thu gospel story of Him of Nazareth was con structed long centuries after the. prophecies were written , and the accounts of Ills life were made to fit the old tcitament prophe cies , so that as a learned writer says : "Han the prophets In their beautiful allegories used different figures of speech the Ufa of the Mcrslah must necessarily have been con structed differently. " That this Is said with como measure of justice Is evidenced by the fact that where In some Instances the origi nal Hebrew of prophetical writings has been mistranslated similar mistakes have crept Into the gospel accounts of the Christian Savior. I believe that Mr. Baldwin Is not quite clear about the Jewish conception of the prophets , Inasmuch as ho finds me Incon sistent In comparing Jesus with them , and yet denying the claim of divinity for the latter. The fact of the matter Is that we gra.it no divinity to any one man , hut bo- llevo that In every man there burns the spark of the divine. , and that every soul Is part of that universal soul that wo call God. Wo believe that every man who reads In llfo a meaning and finds In existence a duty Is a child and agent of the Deity. I am not convinced of the accuracy of Mr. Haldwln's statement that the reformation worked In drunkards , Magdalcncs and liars Is In tlio nature of a miracle of Christ. I sco In It rather the superior power of right over wrong , and that Is certainly no mira cle. cle.About About the Jews returning aa a nation to Palestine , I may simply say that wo neither expect nor wish for such u consummation. America Is our Canaan , and the city of Washington Is our Jerusalem , and the Jew Is ready to stand as a patriot of patriots in this fair land , where one's conscience Is as free as God's own sunshine. With other men , I , too , hope for the dawii of a Messianic era , but unlike many my expectation U not for the coming of one man to ndcem the world from aln , but rather for the spread of truth , of light and brotherhood , for when these shall bu unl- vcnmlly acknowledged as supreme the Mes- flanlu era will bo hero. LEO M. FUANKLIN , . Three lloj'M from Xt'W Vurlf. Wallace TouHcy , John ( Dauby and John Cornon are tbteo tiojn who arc badly wanted In Huffalo , N. Y. , for tlio theft of $120. After stealing that amount they left their hometown town to fight Indians In the woolly went , [ iurchalnK ticket. ] for Oregon. It In be llevtd that they will travel by way of till ? city , and therefore the local authorities have been requcntcd to detain them It they do , LOCATING HIE EXPOSITION Finnl Actiou by the Directors May Bo Postponed for a Week. QUESTION WILL BE CONSIDERED TODAY lloporl of ( lie K\iortx | Will a Itooninniomlndon of Ono rt the Klvo SltoM ( hill Arc OfTcrcil. The meeting of the Hoard of Directors ol the Trnnpmlsttlsslppl and International Kx- position this afternoon to receive the report of tui experts employed to rxamltio the five sites offered promises to bo an animated session. The report of the en gineers will bo presented to the board aud It will contain a recommendation of one of the sites , with reasons why that particular one should bo RelccieJ. The meeting will then be agitated over the iiiUHtlon of whether the report tdiall he actcil upon at once and the site selected , or whether the matter shall be made the subject ot extended discussion kind deliberation and the selection of the slto deferred for n week longer. There nro many Indications going to show tbct both sides ot tli's ' question will have warm supporters. Some of dm directory nro strongly In favor of having the question decided at once , The mr t vigorous of these are among Ihoeo who are boldly proclaimed by the supporters of u certain site an being lu favor of that site , Tlio position which would be taken by tlieoo members In the event that the engineer ] should strongly recommend some other slto Is uncertain. The moro conservative mem bers of the board favor n deliberate course and ray the question of location should bo given the most careful consideration. They favor deferring action until the report nl the engineers can bo thoroughly digested nnd all the mcnihera of the board thoroughly posted on tli3 qualifications of each of the sites. The engineers have decided to Include In their report a recommendation of what they regard us the best site. What slto this wfll be they have vouchsafed no Indication , and they say they will not Indicate In any way , to any person , what this recommendation will be , but will submit their findings In a coaled communication to.tho committee au thorized to employ them , nml Chairman Yost of the special committee Is authority for the statement that this report will be handed unopened to the full meeting of Iho di rectors. rectors.CABLED CABLED ON TUB UNQINEUHS. The promoters of the Itlvervlcw park slto stole a march upon their rivals yester day and sent a delegation to Interview the engineering experts , with additional e.rgu- ments why the park down on the lilufTn overlooking the Missouri should he selected as an exposition site. This delegation com prised 15. J. Cornish. Krncst Stuht , Dr. Hni'chett , John Powers und Police Jud o Gordon. They had a talk with Mr. Alexan der , ono of the exports , and presented argu ments In addition to those used when the alto was visited by the cnglue-ru. They said the legislature would probably attach a provision to any appropriation which would require the establishment of an Irrigated farm on the expedition grounds ; they urged that the bottom lands forming a part of the proposed slto on the south sldo waa thi only place suitable for such an exhibit. They also called attention to the springs lu Syndicate park , three blocks wist of Illver- vlew park , and said the water from thcBo could be piped to the Exposition grounds at ( dlght expense. They also presented other reasons und wanted the engineers to vfcilt the site again , but the Invitation was de clined , Mr. Alexander -saying they had no further tlmo to spare for that purpose. FIRST APPLICATION KOU SPACE. The llrst application for space for nn exhibit at the Exposition was filed yes- terday. The applicant was Karroll & Co. , the local manufacturers of fyrup , Jclllca , etc. Application -was made for 1.500 feet , and the Jocose manager of the house Inld claim In advance to the imlil The Department of Promotion announces that It Is now prepared to furnHi business men with circular letters to bo sent to their correspondents. These letters are designed to awaken an interest In this and adjoin ing states In legislative action , and will bo supplied by the department to any business man who will swul them out In his mall. That the Exposition lo attracting atten tion In every part of the United States Is evident from the , Hood of communications that come to Mayor Hroatch to Inquire In regard to various facts connected with the enterprise. Krorn a dozen to thirty such communications are recclvcJ every day and : hey como from every state and territory In .ho union. They ore from people who want : o know about various matters pertaining to he Exposition proper and from others who nqulio In regard to dry goods establish ments , Industrial enterprises and public improvement ! ? , evidently with a view to prospective possibilities of obtaining cm- iloymcnt. Some of the letters are answered jy Secretary Wertz and others are turned over to the managers of tlio Exposition. In Ilolialf of Culm. OMAIIA , Jan. 21. To the Editor of The Ilee : I believe that a largo majority of the American people have the welfare of the Cubans at heart , and , while It Is an open lucstlon whether Spain can govern herself , t Is not an open question whether Hie bo able to govern another nation. Now Is there any legitimate way In which we can help the Cubans ? They do not need men ; they 10 need money. Is there not some way In which a popular subscription could be taken md the money bo sent to the Cuban Junta n New York ? A party of men stood on the dock at New York where a drayman , hacking his horoo oo near the edge , both horse and dray toppled over Into the water. It was all the poor man had and much sympathy was ex- ireesed for him by Iho bystanders. Finally ono man put his hand Into his pocket , and Irawlng out a $10 bill said , "I am sorry 110 worth. " Enough others were sorry $1 worth to get the man another horse. How nany thousand Americans would bo worry 11 worth ? Novif this plan Is not contrary to Inter national law , I believe that within ninety lays from the time It WCB generally known rom $500,000 to $1,000,000 could be rained or the benefit of the Cubaiuv I suggest the orgolng for the reaton that If Spain IB victorious In this struggle It will only bo a few years before the struggle la repeated , ho fair Island of Cuba again devastated and to on until It gains Its freedom , In regard to our policy a.i ono Of the great powers I believe Mr. Cleveland's vlowu are correct , but this plan has only to do vlth private action. I would like to hear his matter dlecuMcd by those who are able o do BO Intelligently. F. I ) . WILSON. The king ot pills IB Beecniun's ncoiham's Monument ( o 3loiunr > - of I'nuloiir. OMAHA , J.in. 21. To the Editor of The lee : Subscription papers are being clrcu- ated by the committee In Washington with ho purneae of raising America's share for ho International monument to I'uateur , which Is to ho erected In Paris. The Borvlcea f Pasteur In the cause of humanity were ot uch great and lasting Importance that any no who appreciates them must feel com- icllcd to contribute , If only to a slight cx- ent , toward thin memorial. Small amountu f 50 cents or $1 are- being nubdcrlbcd and my one desiring to contribute can find the 1st for a few days at the ollico of Coutant : Kqulrt'H , Fourteenth and Farnam streets , ir , If preferred , money can bo sent direct to If , QixirKu KteriibtTg , mirgcon general , U. . A , , Washington , D , 0. A DOCTOR. For CougliB and Throat Trouble. ! uao Irown's Ilronchlal Troches. They rullevo II Throat Irritations caused by Cold or u I th ! ) voice.